|capital=Frankfort
|language=English
|governor=Steve BeshearMatt Bevin|gparty=DemocratRepublican
|senator2=Rand Paul
|s2party=Republican
==Sports==
Kentucky is best-known for its men's college [[basketball]] teams, most notably the [[University of Kentucky]] Wildcats and [[University of Louisville]] Cardinals. The University of Kentucky (UK) traditionally has been the dominant of the two, having won seven NCAA titles. According to Sagarin ratings, the 1996 UK team is the highest-ranked college basketball team in NCAA history. Many UK basketball players have gone on to play in the NBA. The UK basketball team has recently lost its dominance, and the in-state rivalry between the two universities has become less one-sided.
[[Football]] has become increasingly associated with Kentucky as well, due to the [[University of Louisville]]'s team's growth under the coaching of Bobby Petrino. In 2007, the Cardinals competed in and won at the [[Orange Bowl]]. During the 2007 football season, the University of Kentucky has been extremely successful compared to the past, having beaten several ranked teams, including Louisville and #1 (at the time) LSU.
==Politics==
Kentucky is generally considered a [[conservative]] state. Republicans [[Mitch McConnell]] and [[Rand Paul]] are their U.S. [[Senators]]. Senator McConnell is [[Minority Majority Leader of the Senate]]. McConnell's wife, [[Elaine Chao]], was [[United States]] [[Secretary of Labor]] under President [[George W. Bush]]. However, Democrat The current governor of Kentucky is [[Steve BeshearTea Party Movement|Tea Party]] is Republican [[Matt Bevin]], the current Governor. Since third Republican governor since World War II, Kentucky has to be elected only two Republican governors, with [[Louie B. Nunn]], the chief executive from 1967 to 1971, and [[Ernie Fletcher]], who served from 2003 to 2007, until he was unseated by Beshear. Beshear handily won reelection in 2011 over the challenged waged by the Republican State Senate President David L. Williamsbeing elected before.
Kentucky is allowed to seat six representatives in the [[U.S. House of Representatives]], and these seats are held by Republicans Ed Whitfield, Brett Guthrie, Geoff DavisThomas Massie, Andy Barr, and Hal Rogers, and Democrats Democrat John Yarmuth and Ben Chandler, a grandson of the late baseball commissioner and Democratic Governor [[Happy Chandler]].
The Kentucky State Senate has 22 27 Republicans, 15 and 11 Democrats. In the 2016 elections, the Republicans made massive gains in the State House, gaining a supermajority and one Independentholding the chamber for the first time since 1921. <ref name="Loftus">Loftus, Tom (November 9, 2016). [http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/elections/kentucky/2016/11/08/control-kentucky-house-up-grabs/93344114/ GOP takes Ky House in historic shift]. ''Courier-Journal''. Retrieved November 9, 2016.</ref> The Kentucky State Housewas the last state legislature in the South to not have a Republican majority, however, has 59 Democrats and 41 GOP trifecta in the state will allow conservative legislation to be passed.<ref name="Loftus"/><ref>Brammer, Jack & Blackford, Linda (November 8, 2016). [http://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article113464563.html Republicanstake the Kentucky House after 95 years of Democratic control]. ''Lexington Herald-Leader''. Retrieved November 9, 2016.</ref>
==Elected Official==
*Rep. [[Brett Guthrie]] [R, KY-02]
*Rep. [[John Yarmuth]] [D, KY-03]
*Rep. [[Geoff DavisThomas Massie]] [R, KY-04]
*Rep. [[Hal Rogers]] [R, KY-05]
*Rep. [[Ben ChandlerAndy Barr]] [DR, KY-06]
===Statewide===
*Governor [[Steve BeshearMatt Bevin]] (DR)*Lt. Governor [[Jerry AbramsonJenean Hampton]] (DR)*Attorney General [[Jack ConwayAndy Beshear]] (D)
*Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes (D)
*Agriculture Commissioner James R. Comer Ryan Quarles (R)*State Treasurer [[Todd HollenbachAllison Ball]] (DR)*State Auditor [[Mike Harmon]] (R)
[[Image:Ky outline.jpg|right|300px]]